Otto Mansfield

On March 14, 2007 a fine, highly intelligent, kind gentleman left this world for a better place.

Otto Mansfield was born on April 27, 1921 in Carterton, Virginia to Otto S. and Janie Mansfield. He grew up and attended public schools in Carterton, Castlewood and Coeburn, Virginia and graduated from Northfork, West Virginia High School. He received a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering and a U.S. Army Signal Corps commission at West Virginia University. Later, he studied English and English Literature at King’s College in Newcastle, England.

Otto served in World War II with the 3188 Signal Service Battalion with assignments in England, France and Germany participating in the Rhineland Campaign and the European African Middle Eastern Campaign. He attained the rank of captain.

Following honorable discharge from active duty in 1946 Otto married Yvonne Robinson, of Southend of Sea, England. They had met in Marseille, France, where Yvonne was working with the American Red Cross. Yvonne emigrated to the United Stats after completing her service with the Red Cross. They were married at the church and home of Yvonne’s great-uncle in Tacoma, Washington.

Otto Mansfield spent his professional career with the General Electric Corporation. He had assignments in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Montana and Oklahoma. After 36 years with General Electric, he retired in 1982 at which time he was District Manager with offices in Oklahoma City and Tulsa Oklahoma, Fort Smith, Arkansas, Memphis, Tennessee, El Paso, Odessa, Lubbock, and Amarillo, Texas. He was highly respected by other company executives and his co-workers.

After retirement the Mansfields moved to Montana where they had previously enjoyed ten happy years in Butte and Billings and a number of vacations. Following a winter at Big Sky they settled in Billings in 1984 where they became members of the Yellowstone Country Club and Otto a member of the Elks Lodge No. 394 and a charter member and volunteer of Zoo Montana.

Otto and Yvonne founded The Yvonne Mansfield Animal Fund and associated trust to provide financial assistance on a continuing basis for distressed animals in Yellowstone County, Montana. Besides having a deep love for all animals, Otto had many hobbies including fishing, photography and travel. The couple traveled extensively in Europe, Mexico and the United States.

Otto was a man of high integrity and loyalty and a loving husband to Yvonne for over 60 years. He was kind, soft-spoken and generous and will be dearly missed by his family and friends.

Otto was preceded in death by his parents, Otto and Janie Mansfield; three sisters: Mary Sykes, Helen Shaffner and Betty Cordray.

He is survived by his loving wife Yvonne Mansfield of Billings; two wonderful nieces, Jane Brandon and Rebecca Cordray; and nephews, Clark and Roger Sykes; and cousins, Judy Moss, Bud Ferguson, Shirley Walker, John Childres, June Couch, and Edith Little.

Funeral Services for Otto Mansfield will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Tuesday, March 20, at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary. The casket will be closed. Interment will follow at Yellowstone Valley Memorial Park.

Memorials may be made to Zoo Montana, 2100 S. Shiloh Rd., Billings, MT 59106; Big Sky Hospice, P.O. Box 35033, Billings, MT 59107-5033; or the charity of one’s choice.